Meat-chopping machine



(No Model...) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

2 H. R.`SHI-RK.

u MEAT SHOPPING MAGHINE. No. 268,298. Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheetl 2. HpR. SHIRK.

MEAT SHOPPING MACHINE.

No. 268,298. Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY It. SHIRK, OF ALBION, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,298, dated November 28, 1882.

Application filed July 11, 1882. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHENRY R. SHIRK, of Albion, in the county of Noble and State ot' lndiana, have invented a new and Improved Meat-Ghopping Machine, o1" which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to that class of meat cutting or chopping machines in which springsupported knives and a revolving block are u sed, the knives and block being operated by means of a sprocket-shaft; and my invention consists in the peculiar construction and ar' rangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had.to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in

which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved meat-chopping machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation `taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 2.

A represents the block upon which the meat is chopped; B, the sprocket-shaft, which is provided with the crank-wheel a at one end and the crank b at the other. C C represent the springs, which are. held in the shalt F, and carry the knives d d at their outer ends, and which are'attached thereto by the bolts c e. D represents the stiiener, and E E represent the pawls for revolving the block A. The frame in which all of these parts are held in proper relation to each other for operation is composed of the four posts G, extended plates H H at the top 0f the posts, the lower crossv pieces, 1 I, and upper cross-pieces, J J, extending from post to post at the ends of the frame, and the central cross-piece,K,attachcd to the lower cross-pieces, I I, upper central cross-piece, L, attached to cross-pieces J J, and the side elevated cross-piece, M. (Shown clearly in Fig. 2.)

. N is the central stud, upon which the block A is secured, which stud passes through the upper central cross-piece, L, and rests at its lower end upon the lower central cross-piece, K, and forms the pivot for thc block. The lower end of this stud has the metal cap o, which is centrally socketed to rest upon the l pointed Vscrew-bolt p, which passes up through the lower central cross-piece, K, and serves as the step or bearing-point for the stud N, and as a means for adjusting the block vertically to keep it at all times at the proper heightto suit the knives.

The sprocket-shaft B is journaled in the forward extensions ot' the upper plates, H H, of the frame, as shown in the drawings, and the projections h 7L thereof are arranged spirally upon the shaft, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and are adapted to lift the forward ends of the springs G G as the shaft is revolved, for causing the knives tc deliver their blows for cutting any meat or other material placed upon the block A, the springs C being held bythe cross-bar or stift'euer D. This stiiener is ecceu tricin form in cross-section, and is provided with the pins c c, which come between the springs G C, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and serve as guides to keep the springs in place. The outer end ofthe stiii'eneris provided with the crank or lever D', by which the stilfener may be turned and held by means of the pin d and perforated plate dzin different positions for regulating the force of the springs to correspond with the quantity and quality of the material being cut upon the block.

The 'pawls E E, by which the block A is revolved, engage with the ratchet f, formed around the lower edge of the block, and are simultaneously operated by means of the vertical shaft O, which is rocked from the shaft B by means of the arm p and connecting-rod 12, the pawls being attached to the bell-crank P, secured upon the said vertical shaft O. The arm p is by preference made integral with the rock-shaft O, and is formed with a series of perforations, as shown at t' in Fig. 2, for regulating the motion ot the block, which may be done by moving the connectingrod p nearer to or farther from the shaft, as will be clearly understood. Upon the block is secured the sheet-metal rim Q, which is made vertically adjustable upon the block by means of the screws c', which secure the rim uponthe block.

The keeperj, iu which one end of the stift'- ener D is placed, forms a continuous bearing for the stil'ener, while the keeper j' is only a partial keeper or hook, under which the stili'- IOO ener is placed, which keeps it from backward and upward movement, but leaves the stiiener free to be moved forward from under the hook or keeperj', so that stiffener may be removed when it is desired. When the stiftener is removed the springs C C and knives d may be swung backward o from the block A, so that the meat or other material may be readily placed upon and removed from the block.

By this construction it will be seen that the chopper is made very simple, can be adjusted according to the material being cut, both in eiect and the power required to operate the machine, and when the block becoinesworn so that it needs dressing off, I remove the rim and take oft', say, cne-halt` an inch from the chopping-surface of the block, and slip the rim down upon the block that distance, and raise the block that distance with the screwp below, and then adjust the bell-crankP to correspond.. In this manner it will be seen Ican Wear d own the block to within three or four inches of the bottom, thus making the machine very durable.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the pivoted springs C, provided With knives d, ot' the eccentric cross-bar or stiftener D, journaled on the side bars of the frame and provided with pins e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the adjustable block A, provided with the ratchet-teethf, and the shaft B, of the vertical shaft 0, provided with the arm pon its upper end,the bell-crank l), adjustably secured to the said shaft, the connecting-rod p, and the pawls F, attached to the bell-crank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY R. SHIRK. Witnesses:

JOHN M. CHAPMAN, D. C. BAUGHMAN. 

